Method for conditioning tobacco



April 4, 1939- R. D. TOUTON METHOD FOR CONDITIONING TOBACCO Filed Dec.6, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l film/ i 751111 022 Arrawzrs April 4, 1939. R.D. TOUTON METHOD FOR CONDITIONING TOBACCO Filed Dec. 6, 1955 5Sheets-Sheet 2 O a e n w 0 R W a. M 5 m R. D. TOUTON METHOD FORCONDITIONING TOBACCO April 4, 1939'.

Filed bee. 6, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 4, 1939.

R. D.'TOU'-TON 2,153,442

METHOD FOR CONDITIONING TOBACCO Filed Dec 6, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4W/T/VESS.

4770mm K April 1939- I R. D.YTOUTON 2,153,442

METHOD FOR CONDITIONING TOBACCO Filed Dec. 6, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IPatented Apr. 4,1939

METHOD FOR CONDITIONING TOBACCO Application December 6, 1935, Serial No.53,137 2, Claims. (o 131-55) UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE This inventionrelates to a method for conditioning tobacco.

More particularly, in accordance with this invention a method isprovided whereby tobacco will be conditioned for any desired purpose.Thus, for example, tobacco may be conditioned by moistening to adjustits moisture for fermentation, by moistening to prepare it for sorting,packing, for use in the manufacture of cigars, or other use. Inparticular, the method in accordance with this invention will be foundhighly economical and efficient for the preparation'of tobacco forfermentation.

The method in accordance with this invention will, from the broadstandpoint, involve subjecting tobacco in bunches or hands to a gas, asair, conditioned with respect to the nature of the treatment of thetobacco, as moistening. The gas, as air, will be generally circulatedwith respect to the tobacco and/or forcefully directed into the hands orbunches for the purpose of opening or spreading the leaves, and, at thesame time, the hands or bunches will be subjected to movement through acircuitous path.

The method in accordance with this invention will involve increasing therate of movement of the hands or bunches after the tobacco leaves haveabsorbed sufiicient moisture to render them pliable.

From the broad standpoint the apparatus for carrying out this inventionwill comprise a chamber in which travels a conveyor arranged withsubstantially vertical reaches and adapted to support bunches or handsof tobacco. Within the chamber will be arranged a system of ductsprovided with outlets arranged with respect to the conveyor for thedelivery to the chamber of conditioned gas in a manner to promotegeneral circulation with respect to the tobacco and for the direction ofconditioned gas into the bunches or hands. Means for the conditioning ofgas, as air, with respect to temperature and humidity or moisturecontent will be provided .and will be so arranged asto effectrecirculation of air from the chamber through the system of ducts.

The more specific details of the method and apparatus according to thisinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof preferred embodiments of the apparatus and its mode of operation incarrying out the method with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a 55 form of apparatusemploying this invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view showing a portion of the conveyorsystem. 1

Figure 4 is a detail view showing the means of attaching the cross barsof the conveyor to the same.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side view, partly in section, of another form of apparatusemploying this invention.

Figure '7 is a sectional view on line .1-1 of Figure 6, and

Figure 8 is a detail view showing a portion of the conveyor system shownin Figure '7.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a indicates a chamber which may be ofsuitable dimensions, depending upon the amount of tobacco to be treated,and which is desirably insulated. Within the chamber a is positioned anendless conveyor b of any desired type, and which may comprise a pair ofendless chains 0, c, from which are supported at spaced intervals crossmembers or bars (1, d. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, each of a pluralityof spaced links in the endless chains 0, c is provided with a pin III,which is journaled loosely in a socket I2 at each end of a cross bar itso as to permit free rotation of the cross bars d about the pins l0.

The chains 0, c pass over a series of relatively large sprockets e, esecured to shafts ,f, ,f journaled in a frame g and positioned in linein the upper portion of the chamber a; and also over a series ofrelatively small sprockets h, 71. secured to shafts ,f', f journaled inthe frame a and positioned in line in the'lower portion of the chamberand in staggered relation with the sprockets e, e; and finally oversprockets k, k and k, It, all secured to shafts journaled in the frame gand positioned below and beyond the ends of the series of sprockets h,h.

The conveyor will be driven through a sprocket 24 on one of the shafts fby any suitable connection with any suitable prime mover, as through achain or belt 10 from an electric motor 80, through the medium of aspeed regulator 90 enabling the conveyor to be driven at variousdifferent rates of speed.

By virtue of the arrangement of the several sprockets, e, h, k and k,the conveyor will have a number of pairs of substantially verticalreaches 1 in its travel from one end to the other in the series ofsprockets e and h, which in pairs will be relatively close together, thepairs being relatively her and for such operation will and 22 and ahorizontal return reach supported by the brackets ll.

Within the chamber a adjacent one end thereof is positioned a gas or airconditioning apparatus comprising a casing n provided with inlet openingll and containing a fan 40 positioned adjacent the inlet openings anddriven by any suitable means, as, for example,'a motor positionedoutside of the chamber. The fan will be arranged to deliver gas or air,drawn from the chamber,

through humidifying, heating and/or coolin elements as a waterspray 50and a coil Gil, through which may be passed steam or a refrigerant as itmay be desired for heating or cooling into a main duct 3 which extendslongitudinally in the upper part of the chamber along one side thereof.The humidifier may, for various uses of the apparatus, as in themoistening of tobacco, operate in effect as a cooler, deh 'difier andhumidibe supplied with cold water at a. temperature such as to effectdesired cooling, dehumidification and humidiflcation for the provision.of gas or air having desired wet and dry bulb temperatures for deliveryto the duct 8. Cooling may be effected by admission of cold air to thehumidifier, or by the provision of a cool surface within the chamber a.Humidification of the gas in chamber a may be accomplished by .meansdisplace the air conditioning apparatus or be used in cooperationtherewith.

From the duct s, a'series of short vertical ducts t, t-lead downwardlyat one side of the chamber and terminate in outlet openings from whichconditioned gas is discharged for the provision of general circulationof air in the chamber. The air issuing from ducts t, t will rotate inthe chamber so that the tobacco on the conveyor will be surrounded'by asheath of conditioned gas.

A series of horizontal ducts v, 11 extend from the main duct 3transversely of the chamber beneath the sprocketse, e on lines betweenthe pairs of vertical reaches 1. Upwardly extending nozzles 11, y,spaced so 'as to be in alignment with hands of tobacco as spaced on thecross bars d, d of the .conveyor, lead from the top of the ducts v, vand are adapted to direct forceful jets of conditioned gas into thehands of tobacco carried by the conveyor as it passes over the sprocketse, e. g

In the carrying out of the method in accordance with this invention withuse of the apparatus'described above, the fan in the humidifyingapparatus will be started andair conditioned as required will bedelivered into the main duct and discharged into the chamber through thevarious ducts described. The conveyor will then be put in motion in thedirection of the arrows, and charged with hands of tobacco a: bydividing the hands and straddling them over thebars d, d. The cross barsd, d are tapered upwardly, and thus act to prevent the hands of tobaccofrom tending to slip off. If desired the hands may be secured to thecross bars without straddling by means of any suitable clip engagedunder the butts. The conveyor will be charged at the front end, thehands being placed upon the bars d, d as they progressively pass alongthe short horizontal reach 20. This charging portion of the conveyormay, as shown in Figure I, extend outside the chamber a. As the handsare placed in straddling position along the cross bars d, they willautomatically assume a position with the leaves pendTfiit, and due tothe free rotation of the of sprays in the chamber which may 7 2,158,442widely separated; short horizontal reaches 20 cross bars it about theirconnection with the chains 0, c, the hands will retain this positionwith the leaves pendant throughout their entire passage through thechamber a on the conveyor b. 1

Thus, despite the many changes of direction in the pathof the conveyor bas it passes over the sprockets e and j, the hands of tobacco on thecross bars d, will remain fixed in position with the leaves pendant, andwill have no tendency to slip or fall off of the conveyor.

If the tobacco to be treated is in the dry state in which it is receivedby the fabricator of, for example, cigars and is to be conditioned forfabrication, the hands or bunches will remain on the conveyor, whichwill be driven slowly, for such considerable period as is necessary forthe addition to the tobacco of suflicient moisture to brin it to theproper condition and consequently will make a number of completecircuits on the conveyor, including passage along the horizontal returnreach thereof, or the conveyor'being fully loaded with tobacco mayremain still for a period and set into motion. 0n the other hand, if thetobacco is to be treated to condition it for fermentation, as forsorting or packing, by adjustment of its 'moisture content, bymoistening, the amount of moisture necessary to be added to the tobaccowill be relatively small and conditioning can be effected in one passageof the tobacco at a slow conveyor speed through the vertical reaches ofthe conveyor. In such cases the hands may be placed on the conveyor atthe front horizon tal reach 20 and removed from the conveyor at theshort horizontal reach 22 at the rear of the conveyor.

charge within, for example, two to eighteen inches, preferably aboutnine inches, from the tips of the leaves. These jets of air from thenozzles 11/, y serve to penetrate and open the leaves of the hands.

Referring now more particularly to the form of apparatus shown inFigures 6, 7 and 8, it will be seen that there is provided a chamber asimilar to the chamber a described above and provided with an endlessconveyor 1) of any desired type which, in the specific form shown,comprises a pair of endless chains 0 from which are fixedly supported atspaced intervals cross members or bars d, d. Each cross bar d isprovided with a plurality of suitable clips 33 adapted to grasp andfirmly hold the butts of the hands of tobacco at.

The chains 0', 0' pass over a series of relatively large sprockets esecured to shafts journaled in a frame 9' and positioned in line in thelower portion of the chamber a; and also over a series of relativelysmall sprockets h, h likewise secured to shafts journaled .in the frameg and positioned in line in' the upper portion of the chamber and instaggered relation to the sprockets e. The conveyor chains, as theyleave the last of the series of sprockets e', pass over sprockets 21 andunder sprockets 29, thus forming the short series of sprockets e, h'.

' The conveyor may be driven from any one of the shafts of the sprocketse by any suitable connection therefrom to a suitable prime mover asthrough a chain or belt from an electric motor desirably placed outsidethe chamber a.

- tively close together, the pairs By virtue of the arrangement of theseveral sprockets the conveyor will have a number of pairs ofsubstantially vertical reaches 1' in its travel from one end to theother in the series of sprockets e' and h' which, in pairs, will berelabeing relatively widely spaced.

Within the chamber (1', adjacent one end thereof, is positioned a gas orair-conditioning apparatus, similar to that described above inconnection with Figures 1 to 5, comprising a casing n from which a mainduct s extends longitudinally in the upper part of the chamber along oneside thereof. From this main duct s a. plurality of branch ducts textend downwardly along one side of the chamber and across the bottom ofthe chamber beneath the conveyor, terminating in the outlets 25. Fromthese outlets 25 conditioned gas is discharged for the provision ofgeneral rotary circulation of air in'the chamber.

In carrying out the method in accordance with this invention with use ofthe apparatus described above, the humidifying apparatus will be set inoperation for the circulation of conditioned air within the chamber a.The conveyor will then be set in motion in the direction of the arrowsand charged with hands of tobacco at by fastening the butts of the handsin the clips 33 on the cross bars at. The conveyor will be desirablycharged as the cross bars d pass through the short horizontal reach 35.The. hands of tobacco a: on the conveyor will then pass over thesprockets 3! along the horizontal reach 0' and downwardly and about thesprocket e. The several changes of direction which will occur in thepassage of the hands of tobacco along the conveyor in this manner willserve to agitate the hands to insure a more even take up of moisturefrom the conditioned atmosphere and will also act to separate the leavesof the hands as they become progressively moistened. As the hands oftobacco pass up the vertical reaches I and over the relatively smallsprockets h, it will be seen that they are rapidly inverted through anangle substantially greater than 180 in their passage about thesprockets h, as is best shown in Figure 8. This is due to the fact thatthe hands of tobacco, because of their position on the conveyor, passaround the outside of the small sprockets h, which results'ininversionof the hands through 180, the inversion occurring at an increasing rate,at first slowly and finally into relatively increased rapidity. Thisinversion serves to thoroughly agitate and open up the hands of tobaccoas they become progressively moistened and to insure that each leaf inthe hand is thoroughly and uniformly moistened.

As has been indicated, if the tobacco to be conditioned by moisteningrequires the addition of only a relatively small amount of moisture andthe bunches are loose and open when applied to the conveyor, theconveyor can be operated at a speed with respect to the combined lengthof the vertical reaches such that the desired conditioning can beeffected in one passage of the vertical reaches, since due to themanipulation of the leaves by the forceful air jets and the penetrationthereof into the hands, or by the quick and rapid inversion of thehands, the conditioning will proceed relatively rapidly and withuniformity.

As will be appreciated, the conditioned air discharged through the ductsystem for general circulation and manipulation and penetration of thebunches or hands is recirculated with adjustment of its condition byvpassage through the humidifying apparatus, which, dependent upon thenature of the treatment to be given to the tobacco, will act to cool orheat, humidify or dehumidify the air to the temperature and relativehumidity suitable to the particular treatment.

As will be appreciated, numerous and various modifications in detail maybe made in the apparatus and in the modus operandi above describedwithout departing from the scope of this invention.

As will be appreciated, the conditioning ofthe gas for delivery tochamber a or a may be automatically controlled by any suitable device.responsive to the condition of the gas in the chamber and capable ofmanipulating the various heating, cooling and humidifying devices.

In proceeding for the carrying out of the method of this invention, itwill frequently be desirable to operate the conveyor at varying speed,dependent upon the degree of moistening of the tobacco. Then, whentobacco is dry, a relatively slow speed of the conveyor will beadvantageous. As the tobacco absorbs a certain amount of moisture, thespeed of the conveyor will be increased. The tobacco, after absorbingsufficient moisture to have acquired a relative pliability, will benefitin the absorption of further moisture by the incessant manipulationattainable by increased conveyor speed and resulting in more completeopening of the hands in this conditioned atmosphere. As will beappreciated, the condition of the atmosphere in chamber a is maintainedat substantially a uniform relative humidity.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of conditioning tobacco which includes moving dry tobaccoin a conditioned atmosphere for the purpose of moistening the tobaccocharacterized by the fact that the rate of movement of the tobacco inthe conditioned atmosphere is increased after the tobacco has absorbedsuihcient moisture to have acquired a pliahas absorbed suflicientmoisture to have acquired pliability, and that after the rate ofmovement of the tobacco is increased the tobacco is subjected to theaction of jets of conditioned air.

,RUSH D. TOUTON.

